Displayer mounting device for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A headrest includes a cushioning pad for attaching to a vehicle and having a chamber for receiving a displaying device, and a pivotal coupling device for pivotally coupling the displaying device to the cushioning pad and for allowing the displaying device to be pivoted and adjusted relative to the cushioning pad to selected or suitable angular positions. The displaying device may be received in the cushioning pad without occupying any space of the passenger vehicle and without affecting the seating or the movement of the passengers in the passenger vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a headrest or a displayer mounting device, and more particularly to a displayer mounting device for being disposed in a headrest or for attaching or mounting video monitors or video players or displayers to the headrest of the passenger vehicles without occupying spaces of the passenger vehicles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical displayers or video monitors or video players are normally received in a principle case which is then attached or mounted onto the seat backs or the headrests of the passenger vehicles, for allowing the users or the passengers of the vehicles to view or to play TV, VCR, CRT, VCD, DVD within the passenger vehicles.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,927 to Meritt discloses one of the entertainment accessories for releasably mounting or securing in passenger vehicles, and/or a self-contained case for housing, transporting and mounting video monitor and video player for use in passenger vehicles, and comprising one or more mounting straps attached onto the self-contained cases for attaching or mounting the video monitor and video player to the seat backs and the headrests of the passenger vehicles.

However, the self-contained cases may occupy a large space of the passenger vehicles, particularly the tiny space between the seat backs and the rear cabin or seats for passengers of the passenger vehicles, such that the passengers may not feel comfortable within the tiny rear cabin of the passenger vehicles.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,236 to Hsu discloses another monitor supporting device for attaching to vehicles and comprises a board for attaching to the headrests of the passenger vehicles and for suitably reducing the occupying of the space in the passenger vehicles

However, similarly, the monitor supporting device may also occupy a space of the passenger vehicles, particularly the tiny space between the seat backs and the rear cabin or seats for passengers of the passenger vehicles, such that the passengers also may not feel comfortable within the tiny rear cabin of the passenger vehicles. In addition, the monitor supporting device may not be easily adjusted to the required or suitable or predetermined angular position by the users.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional displayer mounting devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a headrest or a displayer mounting device for attaching or mounting video monitors or video players or displayers to the headrest of the passenger vehicles without occupying spaces of the passenger vehicles and without affecting the seating of the passengers within the passenger vehicles.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a displayer mounting device for forming or acting as the headrest of the passenger vehicles.

The further objective of the present invention is to provide a headrest or a displayer mounting device including a displayer adjustable to any required or suitable or predetermined angular position relative to the headrest.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a headrest for a vehicle comprising a cushioning pad for attaching to the vehicle and including a chamber formed therein, a displaying device received in the chamber of the cushioning pad, and a pivotal coupling device for pivotally coupling the displaying device to the cushioning pad and for allowing the displaying device to be pivoted and adjusted relative to the cushioning pad to selected angular positions.

The pivotal coupling device includes a retaining member attached to the displaying device, and a pivot shaft attached to the cushioning pad and coupled to the retaining member for pivotally coupling the displaying device to the cushioning pad.

The retaining member includes two flaps for resiliently coupling the pivot shaft between the flaps. The retaining member includes a coupling portion provided between the flaps for resiliently coupling the flaps together. The retaining member includes a curved member provided in each of the flaps for pivotally receiving and attaching the pivot shaft.

The curved members of the flaps of the retaining member each include a curved recess formed therein for pivotally receiving the pivot shaft. The container includes a concave member for engaging with the curved member of one of the flaps of the retaining member.

The displaying device includes a container attached to a first flap of the flaps, and a displayer received in the container. The container includes a casing attached to the first flap. The displaying device includes a displayer actuating device disposed in the container and coupled to the displayer.

The pivot shaft includes at least one ear extended therefrom for attaching to the cushioning pad. The pivot shaft includes at least one positioning member extended therefrom for engaging with the container. The positioning member of the pivot shaft includes a first positioning surface formed thereon for engaging with the container.

The positioning member of the pivot shaft includes at least one second positioning surface formed thereon and inclined relative to the first positioning surface for engaging with the container. The cushioning pad includes an inner housing engaged into the chamber of the cushioning pad and having a compartment formed in the inner housing for receiving the displaying device.

One or more rods are further provided and engaged into the chamber of the cushioning pad for supporting the inner housing. The rod includes a bracket secured thereon for supporting the inner housing.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headrest having a displayer mounting device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the headrest and the displayer mounting device as seen from the upper and rear portion of the headrest and the displayer mounting device;

FIG. 3 is a partial rear plan schematic view of the headrest and the displayer mounting device;

FIG. 4 is a partial side plan schematic view of the headrest and the displayer mounting device;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a stay or support device of the headrest;

FIG. 6 is a rear plan schematic view illustrating a container of the displayer mounting device;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the container of the displayer mounting device for attaching or mounting or supporting a video monitor or video player or displayer;

FIG. 8 is a partial side plan schematic view of the displayer mounting device as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating the operation of the displayer mounting device;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view illustrating one member of a pivotal coupling device of the displayer mounting device; and

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view illustrating the other member of the pivotal coupling device of the displayer mounting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a headrest assembly or apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a stay or support device 10 including two rods 11 slidably or adjustably engaged into an upper portion of a backset or backrest or seat back of a passenger vehicle (not shown) or the like, and including a bracket 12 disposed or secured between the upper portions of the rods 11, and including an outer cushioning pad 14 engaged or attached onto the upper and outer peripheral portion of the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 for acting as the headrest for supporting the head portions of the passengers. For example, the outer cushioning pad 14 of the headrest 1 includes a chamber 15 formed therein for receiving the upper portion of the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12.

It is preferable that the headrest 1 further includes an outer receptacle 16 and/or an inner housing 17 engaged into the chamber 15 of the outer cushioning pad 14. For example, the inner housing 17 may be engaged into the outer receptacle 16 which may then be engaged into the chamber 15 of the outer cushioning pad 14, and the inner housing 17 and the outer receptacle 16 may then be secured to the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 with one or more fasteners 18 (FIGS. 3, 6), and the inner housing 17 may include a compartment 19 formed therein (FIGS. 2, 3) for receiving a displaying device 30 and arranged for allowing the displaying device 30 to be pivoted or adjusted relative to the cushioning pad 14 of the headrest 1 to any required or suitable or predetermined angular position.

The displaying device 30 includes a container 31 for receiving or attaching or mounting or supporting a video monitor or a video player or a displayer 32 and a processing device or displayer actuating or operating device 33 therein which is coupled to the displayer 32. For example, the container 31 includes a space 34 formed therein (FIGS. 2, 7) for receiving the displayer 32 and the displayer operating device 33. It is preferable that the container 31 further includes a casing 35 extended rearwardly from the rear portion of the container 31 (FIGS. 6-9), and the casing 35 and/or the container 31 of the displaying device 30 may be pivotally attached or coupled to the inner housing 17 and the outer receptacle 16, or directly coupled to the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 with a pivotal coupling member or means or device 50.

It is to be noted that the container 31 or the displaying device 30 may be directly coupled to the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 with the pivotal coupling device 50 without the inner housing 17 and the outer receptacle 16, but the inner housing 17 and the outer receptacle 16 may preferably be provided for shaping the outer cushioning pad 14 of the headrest 1 and/or for protecting the container 31 or the displaying device 30 and for preventing the container 31 or the displaying device 30 from being hit or damaged by the other objects, and for allowing the container 31 or the displaying device 30 to be safely received and protected by the inner housing 17 and the outer receptacle 16 of the headrest 1.

The container 31 of the displaying device 30 is provided for safely receiving and protecting the displayer 32 and/or the displayer operating device 33 and for preventing the displayer 32 and/or the displayer operating device 33 from being hit or damaged by the other objects, and thus for safely protecting the displayer 32 and/or the displayer operating device 33. The processing device or displayer actuating or operating device 33 may be engaged in the displayer 32 or formed integral with the displayer 32 and provided for actuating or operating the displayer 32. However, the coupling and the actuating or operating of the displayer 32 by the processing device or displayer actuating or operating device 33 is not related to the present invention and will not be described in further details.

The container 31 of the displaying device 30 includes one or more orifices or screw holes 36 formed therein for attaching or coupling or securing the pivotal coupling device 50, and further includes an opening 37 formed therein, and further includes a concave member 38 formed therein and extended or formed in or into the casing 35. The pivotal coupling device 50 includes a substantially U-shaped retaining member 51 having two flaps 52, 53 (FIGS. 2-4, 8-10), in which one of the flaps 52 is engaged with or engaged onto the casing 35 and secured to the casing 35 of the container 31 with such as latches or fasteners 39 (FIG. 8) which may be engaged through the flap 52 and may be engaged or threaded with the orifices or screw holes 36 of the casing 35 or the container 31.

The pivotal coupling device 50 includes a curved coupling portion 54 provided or formed between the flaps 52, 53 for resiliently coupling the flaps 52, 53 together and for allowing the flaps 52, 53 to be resiliently moved toward or away from each other, and includes a curved member 55 provided or formed in each of the flaps 52, 53, and the curved members 55 each include a curved or concave recess 56 formed therein (FIG. 10) for pivotally or rotatably receiving or attaching or coupling a pivot shaft 60 of the pivotal coupling device 50 (FIGS. 3-4, 6, 8-9) and for resiliently clamping or retaining the pivot shaft 60 between the flaps 52, 53. The curved member 55 of one of the flaps 52 may be engaged into the concave member 38 of the casing 35 or of the container 31 for anchoring the pivotal coupling device 50 to the casing 35 or the container 31 and for preventing the pivotal coupling device 50 from being moved up and down relative to the casing 35 or the container 31.

The pivotal coupling device 50 further includes an aperture 57, 58 formed in each of the flaps 52, 53 for receiving a fastener 59 (FIG. 9) which may be engaged through the opening 37 of the casing 35 or of the container 31 and which may be engaged with the flaps 52, 53 for adjusting the distance between the flaps 52, 53 and thus for adjusting the resiliently clamping force of the flaps 52, 53 onto the pivot shaft 60 and thus for adjusting the frictional force between the flaps 52, 53 and the pivot shaft 60 in order to adjust the rotational or pivotal movement between the flaps 52, 53 and the pivot shaft 60. The flaps 52, 53 may be adjusted relative to each other with a driving tool (not shown) through such as the opening 37 of the casing 35 or of the container 31.

The pivot shaft 60 includes one or more (such as two) ears 61 provided or extended from such as the end portions of the pivot shaft 60 and secured to the inner housing 17 and the outer receptacle 16 and/or the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 or directly secured to the outer cushioning pad 14 with such as the fasteners 18 (FIG. 3) such that the displaying device 30 may be pivotally or rotatably attached or coupled to the inner housing 17 and/or the outer receptacle 16 and/or the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 or the outer cushioning pad 14 with the retaining member 51 and the pivot shaft 60 and for allowing the container 31 or the displaying device 30 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the inner housing 17 and/or the outer receptacle 16 and/or the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 of the headrest 1.

It is preferable that the pivot shaft 60 further includes one or more (such as two) protrusions or positioning members 62 extended therefrom, such as extended from the middle portion of the pivot shaft 60 and preferably perpendicular to the pivot shaft 60 (FIGS. 3, 6, 11) for engaging with the container 31, and the positioning members 62 each include one or more flat or positioning surfaces 63, 64 provided or formed thereon, and it is preferable that the positioning surfaces 63, 64 are inclined relative to each other for selectively engaging with the container 31 (FIGS. 4, 8-9) and for selectively positioning the container 31 to the inner housing 17 or the outer receptacle 16 or the rods 11 or the bracket 12 at selected angular positions.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the monitor or video player or displayer 32 or the container 31 and the retaining member 51 may be pivoted or rotated relative to the inner housing 17 and/or the outer receptacle 16 and/or the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 of the headrest 1 with the pivot shaft 60 and may thus be rotated or adjusted relative to the inner housing 17 and/or the outer receptacle 16 and/or the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 to the selected angular positions. The retaining member 51 and the pivot shaft 60 may thus be formed and acted as the pivotal coupling means or device 50 for pivotally or rotatably attaching or coupling the displayer 32 or the container 31 of the displaying device 30 to the inner housing 17 and/or the outer receptacle 16 and/or the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12.

It is to be noted that the displayer 32 or the container 31 of the displaying device 30 may be rotatably received in the chamber 15 of the outer cushioning pad 14 such that the displaying device 30 will not occupy the spaces of the passenger vehicle, and such that the displaying device 30 will not affect the passengers of the passenger vehicle at all, in addition, the displaying device 30 may be suitably rotated or pivoted or adjusted relative to the inner housing 17 and/or the outer receptacle 16 and/or the rods 11 and/or the bracket 12 of the headrest 1 to selected angular position. It is further to be noted that the headrest 1 and the displaying device 30 may be readily attached to any selected vehicles without changing the inner structure or arrangement of the vehicles.

Accordingly, the headrest or displayer mounting device may be provided for attaching or mounting video monitors or video players or displayers to passenger vehicles without occupying spaces of the passenger vehicles, and without affecting the seating of the passengers within the passenger vehicles, and for forming or acting as the headrest of the passenger vehicles, and may be adjusted to any required or suitable or predetermined angular position relative to the headrest.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A headrest for a vehicle comprising: a cushioning pad for attaching to the vehicle and including a chamber formed therein, a displaying device received in said chamber of said cushioning pad, and a pivotal coupling means for pivotally coupling said displaying device to said cushioning pad and for allowing said displaying device to be pivoted and adjusted relative to said cushioning pad to selected angular positions.
 2. The headrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotal coupling means includes a retaining member attached to said displaying device, and a pivot shaft attached to said cushioning pad and coupled to said retaining member for pivotally coupling said displaying device to said cushioning pad.
 3. The headrest as claimed in claim 2, wherein said retaining member includes two flaps for resiliently coupling said pivot shaft between said flaps.
 4. The headrest as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retaining member includes a coupling portion provided between said flaps for resiliently coupling said flaps together.
 5. The headrest as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retaining member includes a curved member provided in each of said flaps for pivotally receiving and attaching said pivot shaft.
 6. The headrest as claimed in claim 5, wherein said curved members of said flaps of said retaining member each include a curved recess formed therein for pivotally receiving said pivot shaft.
 7. The headrest as claimed in claim 5, wherein said container includes a concave member for engaging with said curved member of one of said flaps of said retaining member.
 8. The headrest as claimed in claim 3, wherein said displaying device includes a container attached to a first flap of said flaps, and a displayer received in said container.
 9. The headrest as claimed in claim 8, wherein said container includes a casing attached to said first flap.
 10. The headrest as claimed in claim 8, wherein said displaying device includes a displayer actuating device disposed in said container and coupled to said displayer.
 11. The headrest as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pivot shaft includes at least one ear extended therefrom for attaching to said cushioning pad.
 12. The headrest as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pivot shaft includes at least one positioning member extended therefrom for engaging with said container.
 13. The headrest as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one positioning member of said pivot shaft includes a first positioning surface formed thereon for engaging with said container.
 14. The headrest as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one positioning member of said pivot shaft includes at least one second positioning surface formed thereon and inclined relative to said first positioning surface for engaging with said container.
 15. The headrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cushioning pad includes an inner housing engaged into said chamber of said cushioning pad and having a compartment formed in said inner housing for receiving said displaying device.
 16. The headrest as claimed in claim 15 further comprising at least one rod engaged into said chamber of said cushioning pad for supporting said inner housing.
 17. The headrest as claimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one rod includes a bracket secured thereon for supporting said inner housing. 